Montana State Downs Cal State Fullerton, 86-63, in Tourney Opener

BOZEMAN, MT -
Whitney Connolly came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points and lead three other Bobcats in double figures as host Montana State defeated Cal State Fullerton, 86-63, to close out action on day one of the Wingate Inn Thanksgiving Classic on Friday night in Bozeman, Mont.

The loss drops the Titans to 1-4 overall, extending their losing streak to four straight games. The Bobcats improved to 2-2 overall on the year.

Once again, sophomore Toni Thomas led the way for Fullerton, scoring a team-high 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go with three rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Thomas has scored in double figures in each of the Titans first five games and each of the last 11 games dating back to last year.

Redshirt sophomore Salote Tupou, making her first career start, scored a career-high 10 points in 16 minutes as the only other Titan in double figures.

Connolly hit on 8-of-13 from the floor and added seven rebounds to lead the MSU offense. Starters Krislyn Walalce (16 points), Nubia Garcia (13) and Rebecca Merccer (13) were also in double figures for the Bobcats.

Montana State was blistering from the floor, shooting 53 percent from the floor for the game - including making baskets at just over a 61 percent clip in the second half.

The Titans, shot 41 percent from the floor - including 45 percent in the second half - but could not recover from an 18-point halftime deficit.

Cal State Fullerton advances to face Texas-Arlington, a 59-54 loser to North Dakota State in the tournament's first game, on Saturday (Nov. 24) at 4 p.m. (PT).